Singing is exercise

Is it ever too late to learn how to sing? The simple answer is no!

Science supports that there's no upper age limit to learning new things. In fact, the older you get, the more important it is to follow your passions and learn about what interests you.

Singing is an art that’s probably been around for as long as humans have, existing in some form in all cultures. Regardless of your age or gender, the urge to sing may strike you when you’re in good mood, while driving, cooking, or even just having a shower. You’ve probably done it recently, without really thinking about it.

Luckily for us, this cultural phenomenon has many physical, social, emotional, and cognitive benefits. This is because singing is both an art and, surprisingly, a type of exercise, too.

Here's how:

• Singing is aerobic. This means it gets your blood pumping and oxygenated, improving your cardiovascular health. Aerobic exercise is important in managing conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
• Singing requires deep and controlled breathing, which exercises your lungs and diaphragm. So, it’s a good way to improve your respiratory health.
• When you sing, you'll naturally be exercising various muscles in your throat, face, and abdomen. If you aim to maintain optimal posture for your singing voice, you may also be activating muscles in your back, shoulders, and neck, contributing to overall upper body strength.

Not only can singing make talking easier; it can also make you talk more by increasing your opportunities to socialise. You can meet regularly with like-minded people by joining a choir.

Singing groups can be a great way to connect with others in your community. These groups could be spaces created especially for older people, or they could be intergenerational. Singing is an activity that appeals to all ages, generations, languages, and cultures.

Singing can also be a fantastic way to bond with grandchildren. You can teach your grandkids songs from your childhood and enjoy them together. The amazing thing is that you can share this joy even with babies who haven’t yet mastered the art of speaking coherently.

You may also get a sense of accomplishment from:

• Improving your musical skills
• Increasing your vocal range
• Learning longer and more difficult songs
• Learning to work better with your fellow choir members over time

And you should feel proud of achievements that take effort. This promotes a mindset of growth and lifelong learning, which can help to keep you happy and healthy as you age.

Creativity and artistic skills draw from many different areas of your brain. This means a skill such as singing can still be accessible to people with brain damage or dementia. In fact, musical activities like singing and dancing can lessen your risk of developing dementia and may reduce the symptoms in people who have it.

Singing intervention programs have been shown to improve mental health, mood, and feelings of belonging in people with dementia. And familiar songs from the past have encouraged conversation in people with Alzheimer’s disease who otherwise may be less verbal.